Crazy History: 100 Mind-Blowing Historical Facts That Prove Humanity Has Always Been Nuts!

By Rômulo Silva

Get ready for the wildest ride in history! "Crazy History: 100 Mind-Blowing Historical Facts That Prove Humanity Has Always Been Nuts!" is the perfect book for anyone who loves a good laugh and a mind-bending story.

With 100 of the craziest and most unbelievable historical facts from around the world, this book will keep you entertained for hours. Discover how some weird people declared war over a wooden bucket, learn about a widow who bought a tank to avenge her husband's death, and find out about the bizarre plan to nuke the moon. These are just a few of the hilarious and absurd stories you'll find in this irreverent guide to the insanity of human history.

But that's not all! You see, "Crazy History" also includes profiles of some of the most bizarre and eccentric historical figures, from the king who became a pirate after losing his throne to an emperor who had more ego than sense. And if that's not enough to blow your mind, the book also features stories of how some people met an untimely end in the most unexpected ways.

So why wait? Grab a copy of these hilarious and absurd stories today and prepare to be amazed, amused, and slightly disturbed by the sheer nuttiness of the past. Whether you're a history buff or just looking for a good laugh, this book is guaranteed to entertain and enlighten.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Next Chapter
• Release date: Apr 3, 2023

Book preview

Crazy History

CRAZY HISTORY

100 MIND-BLOWING HISTORICAL FACTS THAT PROVE HUMANITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN NUTS!

RÔMULO SILVA

Copyright (C) 2023 Rômulo Silva

Layout design and Copyright (C) 2023 by Next Chapter

Published 2023 by Next Chapter

Edited by Charity Rabbiosi

Cover art by Lordan June Pinote

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author's permission.

This book is dedicated to my mom, the wonderful woman who supported and inspired me throughout the journey of writing it.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to express my appreciation to the staff at Next Chapter who worked tirelessly to bring this book to fruition. Their dedication and expertise have been invaluable, especially Charity Rabbiosi, for her exceptional editing work, and Miika Hannila, who provided guidance and support throughout the publishing process. Also, I can’t help but acknowledge my readers, whose curiosity and interest inspire me to continue writing. Thank you for joining me on this journey.

CONTENTS

Introduction

Historical Failures

1. Moon Goes Boom: The Hilarious Story Of America's Lunatic Ambitions In Project A119

2. The Day London Got A Little Too Tipsy: The Great Beer Flood Of 1814

3. The Lighthouse That Sunk More Ships Than It Saved: The Cape St George Debacle

4. The Coolest Ship That Never Sailed: The Chilly Tale Of Project Habakkuk

5. A Sticky Mess: The Great Boston Molasses Flood Of 1919

6. When Architects Have Bad Days: The Hilarious Tale Of Fort Blunder

7. The Tragicomedy Of Carl Wilhelm Scheele: The Unlucky Chemist Who Couldn't Catch A Break

8. From Hero To Zero: How Hungary Lost Its Money (And Its Mind)

9. Egg-Straordinary Measures: Britain's Nuclear Chickens

10. When North Carolina Almost Became A Crater: The 1961 Goldsboro B-52 Crash

11. The Sh*ttiest Submarine Story You'll Ever Hear: U-1206 And Its Toilet Troubles

12. How Not To Dispose Of A Dead Whale: Lessons From Oregon

13. When Changes Go Horribly Wrong: The New Coke Fiasco

14. A Story Of Tents And Failed Dreams: The Fyre Festival Controversy

Amazing Achievements

15. A Wild Ride To Vengeance: Mariya Oktyabrskaya's Tank-Smashing Adventures

16. How To Make A Splash At Niagara Falls: The Tale Of Annie Edson Taylor And Her Barrel

17. From Mail To Freedom: The Incredible Escape Of Henry Box Brown

18. The Unexpectedly Lucky Prisoner: The Ludger Sylbaris Story

19. The Ultimate Underdog Story: How A Dead Man Won A Horse Race

20. How To Fall 33,333 Feet And Live To Tell The Tale: Vesna Vulović's Epic Story

21. The Alchemist Who Boiled His Pee To Turn It Into Gold: The Legacy Of Hennig Brand

22. The Checkmate That Saved A Man's Life: The Ossip Bernstein Story

23. The Beer-Drinking Bear Who Fought For Poland: Wojtek's War Story

24. The Galloping Millionaire: A Fast-Paced Look At The Richest Athlete Of All Time

25. The Bulletproof Roosevelt: How Teddy Survived A Shot To The Chest And Still Delivered A Killer Speech

26. Cats, Rats, And Grass: The Weird Diet Of Charles Domery

27. The Giant Among Men: The Life And Times Of Robert Wadlow

Intriguing Events

28. Moo-Ving The Masses: How A Scottish Cow Became A National Hero

29. The Coolest Road Trip: How A Three-Ton Block Of Ice Survived The Desert

30. The Time Russia Ran Out Of Vodka: How The Nation Survived Without Its Beloved Drink

31. The Great Ketchup Swindle: When America's Favorite Sauce Was Peddled As Medicine

32. From Magic Potions To Explosive Results: Gunpowder And The Chinese Quest For Immortality

33. Slicing Through The Irony: When America Tried To Ban Sliced Bread And Ended Up With A Loaf Of Problems

34. When A Map And A General Store Created A New Town: The Agloe Miracle

35. The Fake Disease That Had Real Results: The Miracle Of Syndrome K

36. Mayak Mayhem: A Whimsical Take On A Dangerous Situation

37. When Creativity Gets A Gold Medal: The Forgotten Olympic Art Events

38. A Stinky Situation: How London Almost Became The World's Largest Open-Air Toilet

39. When Laughter Really Is Contagious: The Epidemic That Had Everyone Rolling On The Floor

40. Panic At The Potty: The Great Toilet Paper Shortage Of '73

41. The Tug Of War Olympics: When Countries Pulled Together… Literally

42. From Trash To Treasure: How Lobster Went From Sea Cockroach To Sea Celebrity

43. The Rise And Fall Of Lawnchair Larry: An Airborne Adventure Of Balloons And Bad Decisions

Cultural Peculiarities

44. When It Just Wouldn't Rise: The Hilarious History Of Impotence Trials

45. The Mysterious Rock That Is Certainly Important, But Nobody Really Knows What It Does: The London Stone Chronicles

46. The Beard Rebellion: Joseph Palmer's Battle Against A Shaving Society

47. Crushed Dreams And Broken Bones: When Elephants Were The Real Criminal Justice System

48. When Thieves Ran From Baboons Instead Of Dogs: The Hilarious Truth About Ancient Egyptian Law Enforcement

49. The Crown Jewel Of Fruits: How Rich People Showed Off Their Wealth And Good Taste With Pineapples

50. The Ebay Of The 17th Century: Buy One Wife, Get The Kids Free!

51. The Land Nobody Wanted And Nobody Will Get: The Curse Of Bir Tawil

52. When A Muslim Emperor Built A Catholic Church: The Original Interfaith Project

53. The Great Turkish Alphabet Conspiracy: The Outlawed Letters Q, W, And X

54. Turkey Tales: How The Mayans Turned Birds Into Gods

55. Dive Into The Madness: The Wacky World Of Octopus Wrestling

56. Self-Mummification: The Unconventional Way To Achieve Enlightenment

Weird Wars

57. How One Bucket Rocked Italy To Its Core: The Ridiculous Story Of Modena Vs. Bologna

58. The 38-Minute War: How The Anglo-Zanzibar War Ended Before Sundown

59. The Furry Diplomat: A Dog's Role In An International Incident

60. A Cup Of Chaos: When One Kettle Took The Hit For The Team In A Crazy War

61. How To Start A War In One Easy Step: Cut Off A British Captain's Ear!

62. Emus 1, Australia 0: How Australia's Military Failed To Defeat The Mighty Birds

63. Bacon For Breakfast, War For Lunch: The Almost Forgotten Pig War

64. The Great Lobster War: How A Tiny Crustacean Caused A Diplomatic Crisis Between Brazil And France

65. The Golden Stool: Why You Should Never Piss Off The Ashanti People (Or Touch Their Throne)

66. How A Baker's Tantrum Led To A Military Conundrum: The Pastry War And Its Delicious Origins

67. Booze, Flags, And Diplomacy: The Hans Island Dispute

68. Only 24 Hours Of Freedom: The World's Shortest-Lived Country

Eccentric Criminals

69. Parisian Prank: How A Con Artist Almost Sold The Eiffel Tower

70. The Great Poyais Adventure: How To Lose All Your Money And Get Malaria In Easy Steps

71. The Man Who Burned Down A Temple To Get Famous: The Herostratus Story

72. From Outlaw To Outrageous Fashion Icon: The Bandit Who Became A Pair Of Shoes

73. The Great Christmas Heist: How Santa's Bones Got Stolen

74. The Great Scam Of The Arctic: How Vikings Made A Fortune Selling Fake Unicorn Horns

75. The Brain Burglar: The Hilarious True Story Of Einstein's Stolen Grey Matter

76. From Convict To Princess: Sarah Wilson's Hilarious Con Game

77. A Masterpiece Of Art And A Magnet For Crazy People: Mona Lisa's Wild Ride

78. The Climb To Infamy: Human Fly's Life Of Crime

79. The Roots Of Oppression: The Unconventional Punishment Of An Innocent Plant

80. The Wacky Adventures Of A Criminal's Mummified Body: The Bizarre Story Of Elmer Mccurdy

Distinctive Leaders

81. Caffeine Carnage: The Assassination Of A Coffee-Hating King

82. From Majesty To Mutiny: Eric Of Pomerania's Journey To Piracy

83. From Burning Rome To Crashing Chariots: The Not-So-Great Nero's Olympic Adventure

84. The Epic Fail Of A Royal Funeral: A Look At The Explosive End Of William The Conqueror

85. When Your Mind Is More Fragile Than Your Body: The Story Of Charles Vi's Delicate Reign

86. When Your Emperor Has More Ego Than Sense: A Comical Look At Commodus' Gladiator Adventure

87. When Bunnies Attack: The Tale Of Napoleon's Hilarious Defeat

88. The Emperor's New Drink: Qin Shi Huang's Unsuccessful Search For The Elixir Of Life

89. Buzzing With Excitement: Pepi Ii's Unique Insect Repellent In Ancient Egypt

90. From The White House To The Wrestling Ring: The Unbelievable Story Of Abraham Lincoln

91. The Immortal Mithridates: A King Who Just Couldn't Die (Even When He Tried)

92. When Love And Politics Collide: Marguerite Steinheil And Felix Faure's Fatal Fling

Unusual Deaths

93. Long Beard, Short Life: How A Man Got Killed By His Own Facial Hair

94. The Royal Glutton: How One King Ate Himself To Death

95. Rice Is Nice, Unless You're Prince Sado: The Comical Story Of A Tragic Demise

96. The Toothpick That Took Down A Titan: The Tragic Tale Of Sherwood Anderson

97. The Fashionable Demise Of Draco: A Bizarre Story Involving Clothes

98. The Monkey And The King: A Tragicomedy In Greece

99. The Not-So-Regal End Of Charles Ii Of Navarre: The King Who Played With Fire And Got Burned… Literally

100. The Funny (And Fatal) Side Of Art: The Zeuxis Story

Afterword

About the Author

References

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the wacky and wonderful world of historical oddities, folks! Let's face it, history can be a real snooze-fest sometimes, don't you think? But not this book! As a self-proclaimed history nerd and a long-term content writer for websites and magazines focused on historical subjects, I've scoured the depths of time to uncover some of the most mind-bending and laugh-out-loud moments from the record of civilization. And now, I'm thrilled to share them with you!

History has always been an intriguing subject for me. The more I delved into it, the more amazed I became at the bizarre and unusual events that have occurred throughout time. From America's bizarre plan to nuke the moon to a vengeful widow buying a freaking tank, these stories will have you scratching your head and chuckling in disbelief.

The facts and events in this book are organized into eight categories, each one showcasing a different aspect of humanity's weirdest moments. You'll find stories of Historical Failures, where some weird plans went disastrously wrong. You'll read about Amazing Achievements, where individuals or groups have accomplished incredible feats. Intriguing Events will take you on a journey through strange and mysterious happenings that have puzzled historians for a long time. Cultural Peculiarities will explore the quirky traditions and customs of various cultures around the world. Weird Wars will reveal the most unconventional battles in history. Eccentric Criminals will introduce you to some of the most crazy and outlandish criminals that ever lived. Distinctive Leaders will give you a glimpse into the bizarre and extravagant lifestyles of some of history's most infamous rulers. And finally, Unusual Deaths will shock and amaze you with stories of how some people met their untimely end in the most unexpected ways.

But let me give you a heads up: what you're about to read may be stranger than fiction. We'll explore the most surprising, bizarre and entertaining moments in human history that you won't find in most of the traditional history books. You'll discover curious stories about famous people, unexpected connections between events, and mind-boggling circumstances that will keep you entertained from cover to cover.

So, buckle up and get ready for a wild ride through history. Whether you're a history buff or just someone who loves a good story, there's something in this book for everyone. You'll laugh, you'll gasp, and you'll learn some truly weird historical facts that you'll be dying to share with your friends and family. Let's get started!

HISTORICAL FAILURES

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.

– Thomas Edison

1

MOON GOES BOOM: THE HILARIOUS STORY OF AMERICA'S LUNATIC AMBITIONS IN PROJECT A119

The late 1950s was a period of significant social, cultural, and political upheaval around the world, specially in the United States. Amidst the backdrop of the Vietnam War and civil rights struggles, the US government was engaged in a bitter arms race with the Soviet Union, each trying to outdo the other in terms of technological advancements and military might through the infamous Cold War. It was during this time that a curious and controversial project was conceived – Project A119, the American plan to detonate an atomic bomb on the moon.

It's hard to imagine now, but back in the day, there were actually serious discussions about blowing up the moon with a nuclear bomb. The idea had been proposed as early as 1957 by a physicist named Leonard Reiffel, who was working at the Armour Research Foundation in Chicago. Reiffel had suggested that detonating a nuclear bomb on the moon would not only be a display of American technological prowess but would also serve as a test of the scientific feasibility of the endeavor. Well, maybe he wanted to create some sort of cosmic firework display!

The US Air Force was quick to jump on the idea and launched Project A119 in 1958. Leonard Reiffel was named as the project's director, and a team of scientists and engineers was assembled to plan and execute the mission. The Air Force saw the project as a way to demonstrate American superiority in the Cold War. They probably figured, If we can't beat the Reds on Earth, we'll beat them on the moon!

The plan was to launch a missile carrying a small nuclear device, which would be detonated on the moon's surface. The explosion would be visible from Earth, and the US government hoped that it would send a clear message to the Soviet Union: the United States was capable of achieving feats of technology and power that its rival could not match. Perhaps the goal of Project A119 was to reignite America's lunar ambitions and Make The Moon Great Again (this time with explosions). Or perhaps it was an attempt to show the Soviets that the US was capable of doing something even more audacious than donning bell-bottom pants.

However, Project A119 was not without its critics. Some scientists and policymakers argued that the plan was dangerous and unnecessary. They pointed out that the explosion could have unintended consequences, such as triggering seismic activity on the moon or releasing dangerous radiation into space. Others worried that the project could escalate the arms race and lead to an even more dangerous nuclear arms race. Just imagine an alien race picking up the radiation and thinking Earth is trying to make war with the moon.

Despite these concerns, Project A119 moved forward, and the US Air Force began planning the mission in earnest. They needed to determine the right timing, trajectory, and composition of the missile that would carry the nuclear device to the moon. They also had to make sure that the explosion would be visible from Earth, and that it would have the desired impact on the Soviet Union. Talk about a moon mission with a lot of moving parts!

However, as the planning for Project A119 progressed, a number of logistical and technical challenges began to emerge. Yeah, they must have forgotten to eat their Wheaties in the morning… One of the biggest challenges was